I always wanted to visit those mountains that appear in paitings that every Chinese restaurant has on the walls. And last month, I did it..  Coming back from a short trip to Guilin and Yangshou, and I could say it was a wonderful journey. Leaving the hectic and bustling city of Kuala Lumpur behind us, and landed in the town surrounded by karst hills, flowing rivers and verdant greenery, everything seems like a fairytale. Although thick haze was covering the towns during the we were there, it still could not hide the beautiful scenery of Guilin and Yangshuo. The reflections of the hills in the clear and greenish water are so pristine they almost look like paintings

Over the few days, I’ve experienced different parts of the Guilin and Yangshuo prefecture – including cruising along the scenic Li River amidst karst mountains, witness the rice harvesting in the terrace fields of Longji, wandering through the charming 1000-year-old town of Huangyao, as well as meeting minority tribes in the mountainous Longsheng county and rafting on the traditional bamboo raft along the Yulong River .  It’s not my first time in China, but I’m definitely new to this side of the country, one sprinkled with beautiful natural sights and laid back countryside way of life.

The bad news is that rapid economic growth and a booming tourist trade have made it a challenge to enjoy Guìlín’s charms. Tourist sights levy heavy entry fees and many travellers being grossly overcharged by the persistent touts appear at every streets in the city. Luckily I’ve made early arrangement with a local guide named Amy from Yangshuo to bring us around the city.